Debuff Master

Chapter 717

Handing over his +13 Vanquisher’s Grasp was not an option. Besides, there was no guarantee that Avant would leave him or the Proatine Kingdom alone even after he handed it over.

In addition, it was only a matter of time before a major conflict between the Proatine Kingdom and the Bayerische Kingdom erupted.

“Quick and decisive. We need to end it as fast as possible if we do go to war with them,” Siegfried said.

Thus, Siegfried got ready for war.

“Duke Decimato.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Please prepare for war.”

Duke Decimato immediately ceased all of his research and gathered the Proatine Kingdom’s magicians. That wasn\'t all; Siegfried also sought help from Nanuqsa and the Blanc Clan.

“Chief Nanuqsa.”

“What is the matter that you would request such an urgent meeting, King Siegfried?”

Nanuqsa was in the process of establishing a new homeland for his people, the Blanc Clan, in the Proatine Kingdom when he received Siegfried’s urgent summon.

“I need your help.”

“What’s going on?”

“There’s a chance we might go to war.”

“War...”

“We need you and your warriors’ strength, Chief Nanuqsa.”

Unsurprisingly, Nanuqsa agreed without an ounce of hesitation.

“The Proatine Kingdom is our new homeland. How could I possibly turn a blind eye if our home is threatened by war? Fear not, King Siegfried. I will lend you all the strength I have.”

“Thank you, Chief Nanuqsa.”

Siegfried secured two powerful Masters to aid him in the upcoming war, but he had more alliances he could secure. The next one he summoned was Beggarius, the leader of the infamous Beggar Guild.

“I’m sure you know why I called you, right?”

“So you decided to wage war, huh?”

“It was necessary.”

“Hmm...”

“I need your help,” Siegfried said, asking Beggarius to join his cause. Then, he added slyly, “Now we have two Masters, so if you join, that will make it three.”

“What?!” Beggarius exclaimed, shocked by what he heard.

Two Masters? In such a small kingdom?

This was something hard to believe.

“Are you serious? There are two Masters?”

“Yes.”

“That’s impossible.”

“I’m telling the truth.”

“I’ve heard there are other Masters hiding on this continent, but you’re telling me there are two of them in a small kingdom like this? Does that even make sense?”

“Well, we have two Grandmasters. So it’s only obvious that we might have at least two Masters here?”

“...?”

“Ah, they’re not officially part of the kingdom. They’re just residing in my palace.”

“I don’t get it...”

“Why don’t you go to the Royal Infirmary? You will find Elder Daode Tianzun and Elder Sword Emperor over there.”

“I can’t believe that at all...”

Beggarius was quite skeptical of what Siegfried was saying, but he decided to investigate it later.

“So you want me to help you in this war against the Bayerische Kingdom?” Beggarius asked.

“Yes. We will certainly win this war, so I just need your help to secure it,” Siegfried replied confidently. He was confident that they could defeat the Bayerische Kingdom. His plan was to strike fast, using the two Masters to launch a surprise attack that would overwhelm the Bayerische Forces.

And what if he had Beggarius onboard as well?

Victory would be certain.

Things wouldn\'t be that easy if they were against a major powerhouse on the continent, but they were up against the Bayerische Kingdom here.

“Alright, I understand. We’re all in the same boat now, so I guess there’s no way I can refuse.”

“Thank you.”

“But this won’t be easy.”

“When is war ever easy?”

“True, but still...”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Does it look like I have any choice?”

Siegfried suddenly remembered something and said, “Ah, by the way, I need your help with something before anything else.”

“Hmm?”

“We’re going to abduct Avant.”

“Oh?”

“Here’s the plan...”

Siegfried began outlining his scheme to Beggarius.

***

One week later, Kink was running around desperately searching for Avant.

“Head Blacksmith! Head Blacksmith!”

“What is it?”

Avant was in the midst of crafting a new demonic weapon in the Hometown of Death when he heard Kink’s frantic shouting. It went without saying that the ruckus had immediately put him in a foul mood.

After all, the recent string of humiliations he suffered at Siegfried’s hands, especially with Quandt escaping, caused him to be quite sensitive these days.

“Good news, Head Blacksmith! I bring good news!”

“What could it possibly be that you’re causing such a ruckus, Kink?”

“We’ve secured the Rod of God!”

“What?!” Avant exclaimed. He froze in shock for a second before asking, “Are you certain? Do we have the Rod of God in our possession?!”

“Yes, Head Blacksmith!” Kink replied, his voice filled with excitement. Then, he explained, “That old beggar from the Beggar Guild finally beat that brat, Siegfried van Proa, and took the Rod of God from him!”

“Oh!” Avant exclaimed and trembled with excitement. Getting his hands on the Rod of God, an artifact left behind by the Legendary Bavarian Workshop Blacksmith, Herbert, was one of his lifelong dreams.

“Where is that old man now? I must see him at once!”

“He is on his way to our workshop!”

“Oh! Tell him to hurry!”

“But there is one small issue, sir. He is asking for more money. What should we do—”

“Pay him double—no, triple! Tell him we will pay him as much as he wants as long as he gets here ASAP!”

***

Three hours later...

“Head Blacksmith! The old beggar has finally arrived with the Rod of God!”

“Where is he?! I’ll go to him right now!”

Avant rushed to meet Beggarius, overjoyed at the thought of finally fulfilling his lifelong dream. He arrived and saw Beggarius and his followers sitting at a table, devouring a mountain of food.

“Ughh...” Avant grimaced and covered his nose after smelling the stench coming from Beggarius and his followers.

Despite that, he approached the table and asked, “Are you the infamous Beggar King, Beggarius?”

“Yup, that’s me. The food here is really good. Fantastic, I must say!”

“...”

“Burp!”

‘This filthy beggar... Does he have a demon inside his stomach or what? How can anyone eat so much and in such a repulsive way? How disgusting!’ Avant cursed inwardly.

He was enraged, but he exerted superhuman self-control to keep his temper in check.

“I heard you completed the job I asked for.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Show me the artifact first. I’ll give you the rest of your money once I’ve seen it.”

“Hold on a second.”

“What?”

“Can’t you see I’m eating? I’ll show you once I’m done. Burp!”

Avant was on the verge of exploding, but he forced himself to stay calm. He had no choice but to wait for Beggarius and his followers to finish eating, as he was the one who needed something from them right now.

Thirty minutes later...

“Ah! That really hit the spot!” Beggarius exclaimed while patting his belly.

“Are you done eating?” Avant asked.

“Yeah, I’m done.”

“Then show me the artifact.”

“What’s the rush? How about dessert and tea?”

“Damn it!”

Avant finally lost his temper.

“Are you here for a deal or a feast?! Just show me the damn artifact already!”

“Calm down. No need to get so worked up.”

“Enough! Show me this instant!”

“Fine, fine...” Beggarius said nonchalantly. Then, he reached into his magical pouch and muttered, “Let’s see... Where did I put it...?”

“Hurry up!”

“Don’t be so impatient. I’m looking for it right now.”

“How can it take this long?!”

“Just a moment—Ah! Here it is!”

Finally, Beggarius pulled something out of the pouch.

“...?”

Avant could not believe his eyes. Instead of pulling out the Rod of God, Beggarius took out his thumb sticking out from between his fingers, which was obviously a crude hand gesture often used to insult someone’s size.

“T-This filthy beggar... are you messing with me right now?!”

Just as Avant was about to explode in furry—

Kwachik!

—One of Beggarius’ followers wearing a tattered hat grabbed him by the collar.

“Argh!”

“Got you, you little punk.”

“W-What is the meaning of this?!”

“What does it look like?” the follower asked, slightly lifting his hat. Then, he added, “We’re here to abduct you.”

“Y-You scum...!” Avant cried out upon recognizing the face of the beggar. The face belonged to none other than Siegfried van Proa. The wretched brat that Avant had long wanted to tear apart was now grinning at him in a mocking way.

“Time to go!” Beggarius shouted.

“Yup, let’s go!” Siegfried replied, dragging Avant by his neck and dashing toward the entrance of the Bavarian Workshop.

“I’ll clear the way!” Daytona exclaimed. He was also disguised as one of Beggarius’ beggar followers, and he charged forward, swinging his massive greatsword at the guards rushing toward them.

“W-We’re under attack! The Head Blacksmith has been abducted!”

“Capture them!”

“Don’t let them escape!”

“Go after them!”

And just like that, a wild chase began inside the Bavarian Workshop...

***

On that same afternoon...

“What?!” King Longines the Third of the Bayerische Kingdom was furious upon hearing the report that Avant had been abducted. “Who in their right mind would dare to abduct the Head Blacksmith from the Bavarian Workshop?! Who?!”

“Please calm yourself, sire!”

“Y-You damn fools! Tell me who did it!”

King Longines the Third was so furious that he was practically foaming at the mouth, and there was a good reason behind it. The abduction of the Bavarian Workshop’s head blacksmith was not just any ordinary crime.

He was someone responsible for the kingdom’s economy, and the fact that he had been abducted meant that the Bayerische Kingdom’s economy was in jeopardy.

“Who’s behind this?! What kind of madman would dare pull such a stunt?!”

“T-That is... it was the doing of...”

“Who?! Tell me at once!”

“It was King Siegfried van Proa of the Proatine Kingdom, sire...”

“What?!”

“He abducted Avant and has already fled back to the Proatine Kingdom.”

“That damned brat! How dare he mock me?! Men! Connect me to the Proatine Kingdom at once! Now!”

King Longines the Third ordered that a communication channel be established with the Proatine Kingdom.

About thirty minutes later...

— What do you want?

King Longines the Third came face-to-face with Siegfried through the communication crystal.

“You damn little bastard...! How dare you abduct the Head Blacksmith of the Bavarian Workshop?!”

— Why? Is there a problem?

King Longines the Third was already enraged, and Siegfried\'s words as well as the latter\'s smirk made his blood pressure go through the roof.

“What did you... just say?”

— Avant insulted me, a royalty, a king. He even tried to extort my artifact from me. Plus, he even hired Adventurers to threaten me.

“So what about it?”

— I’m merely punishing him justly. Why would you have any complaints about that?

“Hah!” King Longines the Third let out a scoff, utterly dumbfounded by Siegfried’s logic. Then, he asked, “Are you out of your mind, you little—”

— Keep calling me names, and you’ll end up dead.

“What did you say?”

— Watch your mouth if you don’t want things to get worse for you. I suggest that you speak nicely and courteously to me while you can. Well, if you don’t, I might make you regret all of this later.

Siegfried was sneering in a mocking tone, but his expression looked ice-cold.

It sounded ironic, but here he was—the king of a small, pathetic, insignificant kingdom—threatening King Longines the Third, the ruler of one of the most affluent kingdoms on the continent.